In turmoil since his forced kiss on Jenni Hermoso after the Women’s World Cup final, Luis Rubiales submitted his resignation on Sunday evening.
It’s over for Luis Rubiales at the head of Spanish football. In an open letter shared on the social network . After having shown a lot of confidence and obstinacy, like his speech to the federation during which he had stated on multiple occasions that he would not resign, he ended up being overtaken by events .
Three weeks after the World Cup final won by La Roja and at the end of which he forcibly kissed Jennifer Hermoso on the mouth, the affair reached its first outcome, which seemed inevitable, as Luis Rubiales sailed so seen in recent weeks, contested from all sides.
In the eye of justice
Since August 20, the now ex-president has been in the sights of justice. At the end of the month, the prosecution opened an investigation against Luis Rubiales for “sexual assault”. A few days later, on September 6, Jenni Hermoso decided to file a complaint, allowing the prosecution to launch proceedings and request her indictment. In Spain, a non-consensual kiss can be considered, since a recent reform of the Penal Code, as sexual assault.
The pressure on Rubiales was also political. In a country which has worked a lot in recent years for the condition of women and against sexist violence, the government very quickly looked into the matter. On the same day of the events, the Minister of Equality Irene Moreno spoke on “consider that giving a kiss without consent is something that ‘happens'” and that it was “a form of sexual violence that we, women, suffer on a daily basis”.
The next day, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez toughened his tone, not convinced by Luis Rubiales’ apology video, calling them“inappropriate” and calling him to “go further”. Several ministers had explicitly requested his resignation, before the government also requested the Sports Court to have Rubiales suspended.
Attacked on all terrains
Above all, Luis Rubiales found himself challenged on the sporting field, perhaps the one that matters the most for a federation president. Provisionally suspended by Fifa for a period of 90 days after an internal investigation, attacked by the Women’s Professional Football League before the Superior Sports Council, he was even dropped by his two coaches, Luis de la Fuente and Jorge Vilda, who had however initially shown their support, in the front row to applaud his speech to the Federation.
The first apologized and expressed his regrets a few days later. While the majority of his staff presented their resignation, the second initially declared regret “inappropriate behavior” of its president, before being removed from office.
Rubiales was in particular disowned by the internationals, who announced that they would renounce the selection as long as “the current leaders [étaient] maintained”. The appeal was signed by the 23 brand new world champions, followed by several dozen other players from the Roja reservoir. Great football stars in the country, such as Iker Casillas and Andres Iniesta, also expressed their anger and shame at the situation, while the men’s team also denounced, at the start of their rally, the “unacceptable behavior” by Luis Rubiales. Attacks from all sides which ultimately got the better of its ability to “TO DO [son] work” and his retention in office.